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Trip from Arnold, MD to South Bel Air, MD

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 8m

Distance

47.3 mi

76 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 3m ★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census designated place, Maryland, United States

Arnold, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown South Bel Air, MD, MD

South Bel Air, MD

Da Khatri

Trip Overview

The drive from Arnold, MD to South Bel Air, MD covers 47.3 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Express Toll Lanes, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, Governor Ritchie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.5 miles on Express Toll Lanes. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.84 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

23.7 miles from Arnold, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 8m drive with frequent turns across 47.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Express Toll Lanes is the longest continuous segment at about 8.5 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

359 ft 0 ft

Total Climb

553 ft

Total Descent

327 ft

Highest Point

359 ft

~47.3 mi in

Elevation Range

359 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.4 miles in near MD 10 / Arundel Expressway.

Route Complexity 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.3 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles (MD 10 / Arundel Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 895 / Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
8.4 mi into trip | ~13m in | MD 10 / Arundel Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10 / Arundel Expressway toward MD 10 North: Baltimore

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward MD 10 North: Baltimore
6
11.8 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the exit toward MD 270

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward MD 270
6
24.7 mi into trip | ~37m in | I 895 / Express Toll Lanes

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895 / Express Toll Lanes

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
8
40.6 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 77A Toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood
7
41 mi into trip | ~56m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 24 North: Bel Air

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward MD 24 North: Bel Air

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Arnold, MD to South Bel Air, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Edgewood along the way.

Edgewood

40.6 mi in | ~55m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Express Toll Lanes 8.5 mi 9m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 7.3 mi 8m
Governor Ritchie Highway 6.9 mi 10m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 5.9 mi 8m
Arundel Expressway 4.5 mi 6m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 4.3 mi 6m
Harbor Tunnel Throughway 3.1 mi 4m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Express Toll Lanes — 8.5 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arnold, MD and South Bel Air, MD.

1

Start on Church Road

527 ft · 15 sec · Church Road
2

Turn slight right onto Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard
3

At end of road, turn right onto MD 2

6.9 mi · 10 min · Governor Ritchie Highway
4

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward MD 10 North, I 695: Baltimore
5

Merge onto MD 10

1.1 mi · 1 min · Arundel Expressway
6

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10

3.4 mi · 4 min · Arundel Expressway
Toward MD 10 North: Baltimore Use the slight right lane.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward MD 270 Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn left onto MD 270

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Furnace Branch Road
Use the left lane.
9

Turn right onto MD 2

1.2 mi · 2 min · Ritchie Highway
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 895
11

Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

3.1 mi · 4 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
12

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
14

Continue on I 895

3.7 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895

8.5 mi · 9 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
16

Keep slight right at fork

297 ft · 3 sec
17

Merge onto I 95

7.3 mi · 8 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 77A Toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward MD 24 North: Bel Air Use the slight left lane.
20

Turn left onto MD 24

4.3 mi · 6 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
21

Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Ring Factory Road
Use the right lane.
22

Turn left onto MD 924

0.6 mi · 1 min · Emmorton Road
23

Continue on MD 924

496 ft · 17 sec · South Main Street
24

Turn right onto East MacPhail Road

0.3 mi · 44 sec · East MacPhail Road
25

Turn left onto South Shamrock Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Shamrock Road
26

Arrive at destination

South Shamrock Road

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 23.7 miles from Arnold, MD, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.5 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 10 miles or 15m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 23.7 miles or 35m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Bel Air, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Arnold, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Arnold, MD

This is one driving day of about 47.3 miles and 1h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 10 miles from Arnold, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Express Toll Lanes for about 8.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23.7 mi from Arnold, MD · 35m into the drive

census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dundalk, MD

24 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Glen Burnie, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dundalk, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Arnold, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in South Bel Air, MD

The final approach into South Bel Air, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.84 one way

$15.68 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.59 $17.18
premium $4.93 $9.17 $18.35
diesel $5.61 $10.44 $20.89

Estimated Tolls: $0.41

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (5.9 mi) $0.41

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.2 0 $4.97 $2.27
Efficient EV 11.8 0 $4.14 $1.89
EV Truck/SUV 18.9 0 $6.62 $3.03

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026

Origin

Arnold, MD

Evening in Arnold on Wednesday

Local time

6:57 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Bel Air, MD

Evening in South Bel Air on Wednesday

Local time

6:57 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

33 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 8m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Arnold, MD to South Bel Air, MD covers 47.3 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Express Toll Lanes, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, Governor Ritchie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 miles from Arnold, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.3 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.4 miles (MD 10 / Arundel Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 895 / Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Arnold, MD to South Bel Air, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Edgewood along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 0 ft to 359 ft elevation with about 553 ft of total climbing.

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